In Slavic mythology, the vodyanoy is a water spirit that may appear as a naked man, with descriptions of his appearance varying between traditions. When angered, the vodyanoy is said to break dams and drown people, making him a feared figure among those who lived and worked near rivers, lakes and mills.
Facts
Iconography
SymbolSourced to the subject's own accountDescriptions of the vodyanoy vary by shape shifting account, from a naked pot bellied bald man to a bearded figure with green hair to an anthropomorphic frog; this atlas's glyph follows the bearded human form tradition, shown emerging from water. 1 Connections
Attested in Region
Belongs to Tradition
Related To
Both figures belong to the same live Slavic-native-faith-rodnovery tradition record; vodyanoy (water) and leshy (forest) are the standard paired nature-spirit figures of Slavic folklore.
Sources
1. Vodyanoy (Wikipedia)
Description sectionQuote, Description section
He may appear to be a naked man with a pot belly (and bald-headed) wearing a hat and belt of reeds and rushes, conflicting with other accounts ascribing him green hair and a long green beard, while many depictions restore him as an anthropormophic frog.
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